Last Updated on: 31st January 2026, 01:19 pm
Jaipur, also known as the ‘Pink City,’ is Rajasthan’s largest and easily one of India’s most touristic. And for good reason. Its imposing forts, refined palaces, and scenic natural surroundings offer visitors with plenty to see. As many of the attractions are spread far apart, you’ll want at least three days to experience the top things to do in Jaipur.
Founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, Jaipur replaced nearby Amber as the capital of the Kachwaha Rajputs. It was also one of the first planned cities in India. But as the city continues to expand, that’s not quite so obvious today!
For more information about reaching Jaipur and the best places to stay, be sure to check the end of the article.
THE JAIPUR COMPOSITE TICKET: During your explorations of Jaipur, you can save money by purchasing a Composite Ticket. Valid for two consecutive days, the ticket includes access to Amber Palace, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Jintar Mantar, Sisodiya Garden, Vidyadhar Garden and Isarlat Tower.
I paid around Rs 1200 at the time of my visit, though many of the signs were still listing the old price of Rs 1000. Nevertheless, I was still able to save several hundred rupees.
As mentioned, two days isn’t quite enough to see all of the attractions, and you’ll probably want three. Therefore, it would be wise to save attractions not featured in the Composite Ticket for one of your other days.
Hawa Mahal
Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, Hawa Mahal is Jaipur’s most recognizable landmark. Visitors must buy a ticket to enter (Rs 202 on its own, or with the Composite Ticket mentioned above) and the site opens from 9:00.
But the Hawa Mahal, which means ‘Palace of the Winds,’ is best known for its facade. And the most iconic view of it can actually be seen for free from across the street!
The five-story structure contains 365 windows in total. And it was from here that ladies of the royal harem could discretely watch the streets below.
The head architect was Lal Chand Usta Sawai Pratap Singh, a devotee of Krishna, and the facade was designed in the shape of Krishna’s crown.
Stepping inside, the interior is a lot more understated than the ornate facade suggests. Instead of grand halls, you’ll find open courtyards, narrow corridors, and steep ramps.
Most of the rooms are void of furniture, but sunlight shining through the stained glass windows bathes them in color.
The upper floors provide excellent views of Jaipur’s historic district. The bottom floor, meanwhile, features a small archaeological museum containing various stone carvings discovered around the area.
Jantar Mantar (Astronomical Observatory)
One of Jaipur’s most unusual landmarks, Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II between 1728 and 1734. On its own, entry costs Rs 202, but you can enter with the Composite Ticket.
Rather than telescopes, the site uses massive stone instruments designed to track the movements of the sun, moon, and planets with the naked eye.
But the huge scale of these unusual instruments makes one feel as if they were walking through a contemporary art installation.
The largest structure is the Samrat Yantra, a towering 27-meter sundial built to help predict the year’s crop yield. The nearby Yantra Raj, meanwhile, is a circular instrument designed to track constellations and other celestial bodies.
Another highlight is the Vrihat Samrat Yantra, which is capable of measuring time to within two seconds, according to the on-site signage.
And the Rasivalaya consists of twelve instruments that were used to calculate celestial latitude and longitude as each zodiac sign transited the meridian.
Around the City Palace Complex
Jantar Mantar is part of the wider City Palace Complex. And just nearby, you can also visit the City Palace itself.
The problem is, however, that not only is the palace not part of the Jaipur Composite Ticket, but this single attraction on its own costs Rs 1000! As such, I decided not to enter.
But if you choose to go in, expect to encounter courtyards, palaces, and a museum showcasing royal costumes, weapons, textiles, and manuscripts.
Instead, I visited the Govind Dev Temple (not pictured), another important site within the same complex and one of the region’s most significant Krishna temples.
Its image originally came from Govindeoji Temple in Vrindavan, but was brought here to escape the wrath of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Ever since, it’s been said to watch over Jaipur’s rulers.
The image is revealed to the public seven times daily during scheduled darshan, Even though I arrived at a quiet time when the idol was obscured, this temple has a special energy to it that you’ll have to experience for yourself.
Isarlat Tower
Isarlat Tower rises from the crowded streets of Jaipur’s Old City and it’s rather difficult to photograph from ground level, though it is visible from the Hawa Mahal (see above). Entry costs Rs 200 on its own, but it’s included in the Composite Ticket.
The octagonal minaret was built in 1749 by Maharaja Sawai Ishwari Singh, either to commemorate victories over the Mewars and Marathas or, according to another source, his victory over his brother in the struggle for the Jaipur throne.
While the views of historic Jaipur are impressive, the design makes it surprisingly awkward to find fully unobstructed openings for photography.
Nahargarh Fort
Nahargarh Fort sits on a hill to the north of Jaipur, forming part of the city’s original defensive ring alongside Amber and Jaigarh.
Reaching the fort can be challenging. While taking an Uber is ideal, this can be a pain in the Old City, as the app often forces you to walk to the specific intersection near the Hawa Mahal.
And then once you’ve met your driver, be careful about going directly there, as if you take the route suggested by the app, you may be forced to get out and take an officially sanctioned tuk tuk.
A practical option is to take an Uber to the Nahargarh Palace Hotel and walk from there.
The walk is relatively easy but steep enough to leave you short of breath. Reaching the upper level, you’ll arrive at an old step well but will still have a bit more to go before reaching the main fort. Conveniently, entry is included in Jaipur’s Composite Ticket.
The highlight here is the palace Shri Madhvendra Bhawan, built by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II in the late 19th century. It contains ten apartments spread over two stories that were once used by the Maharaja and his concubines.
The structure blends Indian and Western architectural elements and features ornate and colorful fresco paintings. Walking around, it’s easy to get lost considering the sheer volume of rooms, but the views from the rooftop area make up for the hassle.
After exploring the fort, leaving can be just as challenging as arriving. Ride-hailing from the top is unreliable, so you’ll want to return the way you came. Even then, getting matched with a driver can be a real test of patience in this part of town.
The Albert Hall Museum
The Albert Hall Museum is Jaipur’s oldest museum and one of the city’s finest examples of the Indo-Saracenic style, which blends Indo-Islamic with Western Gothic and Neoclassical architecture.
Completed in 1887, you can admire its domes and arches before even stepping inside. But if you do choose to enter, it’s part of the Jaipur Composite Ticket. Otherwise, it costs Rs 300 on its own.
Inside, the museum houses a wide array of objects, including miniature paintings, textiles, carpets, and regional historical artifacts. Photography generally seems to be discouraged inside, however.
The Eastern Gardens
To the east of central Jaipur are two worthwhile gardens that are both accessible with the Composite Ticket. If you can work out a deal with a driver, you can visit them in tandem with the Monkey Temple further north (see below).
Otherwise, you may want to visit the gardens and Monkey Temple on separate days. While you can hail an Uber to the gardens, you might have trouble finding one for an onward journey. But the gardens are just close enough to walk back to the city if you get stranded.
As we’ll cover shortly, you should also be able to take an Uber one-way to the Monkey Temple and then walk to the city when finished.
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh
Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh is a landscaped garden palace created in 1710 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II for his wife, the princess of Udaipur. Apparently, she disliked living alongside the other royal women at Amber Fort and demanded her own residence.
The result was this secluded retreat set in a natural valley, which served as both a private palace and pleasure garden.
Not only did Sawai Jai Singh oblige, but he was so smitten with Rani that he even agreed to marry her on the condition that their son would be next in line to rule. This was in spite of him already having an older son with another wife.
Madho Singh would eventually be born here. But despite him being chosen to succeed his father, his older brother took the throne anyway with support from Jaipur’s nobles. A seven-year civil war would then ensue, however, after which Madho Singh would eventually emerge victorious.
The terraced garden features fountains, water channels, and painted pavilions, making for a quiet respite from the chaos of central Jaipur.
Viyadhar Bagh
A bit further west is Viyadhar Bagh, named after Vidyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect and planner of the city under Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II.
It gets relatively few visitors, which means that you’ll have many of its painted pavilions to yourself.
The garden follows traditional Mughal landscaping principles, featuring terraced levels, water channels, and pavilions arranged along a central axis.
The Monkey Temple
Also known as Galta Ji, the Monkey Temple is located in the Aravalli Hills northeast of central Jaipur. It’s not included in the Composite Ticket because it’s officially free, and in my case, I was never asked to pay.
From the city center, it’s better to have your Uber take you via the longer, indirect route that approaches from the rear. The ride should last about 30 minutes.
Doing it this way, you can walk through the entire complex downhill and exit on the opposite side, and then take another Uber from the closest major road.
That way, you can avoid having to work out a round-trip fare with your initial driver. Furthermore, people entering the site from the west have complained online about being hassled for money at that entrance.
As the name suggests, monkeys are everywhere, but this is still considered a sacred pilgrimage site. Upon arrival, a man offered to be my guide to ‘protect’ me from the monkeys. I declined, though later on he approached me with a monkey and attempted to place it on me!
‘No, do not put that monkey on me!’ is a phrase you may only ever need to use in India!
Aside from the annoying touts, the main area features an impressive vantage point of a temple structure reflected in the water. Unfortunately, however, the water is quite filthy.
Past the main area, you can walk further uphill to reach the Sun Temple which offers excellent views. Numerous locals offer motorbike rides for a small fee, but the walk is manageable if you’re reasonably fit.
When finished, you can take the downhill path toward the city and find another Uber from there.
I had no issues with any monkeys until exiting, when a mother became aggressive as I walked too close to her baby that was hanging out in the entrance gate. A firm stomp was enough to make her back off, and I made it out without incident.
Amber Fort
Amber Fort is arguably Jaipur’s most famous destination. But unlike many other of Rajasthan’s famous forts, this one is located a considerable distance outside the city (about 10 km). Fortunately, you can easily hail an Uber there.
While it costs Rs 500 on its own, the fort is actually part of the Jaipur Composite Ticket. It’s open daily from around 8:00-17:30, and it’s best to arrive early, as the place gets packed.
Long before Jaipur was officially founded, Amber served as the regional capital from 1037 to 1727. Set in the Aravalli Hills, the fort was the seat of the Kachwaha Rajputs and the political heart of the region for centuries.
What visitors see today largely dates to 1592, when Raja Man Singh I rebuilt the fort over the remains of an earlier 11th-century stronghold. But like most major Rajasthani forts, Amber evolved over generations, with subsequent rulers gradually renovating and adding new structures.
Several of the fort’s most notable additions were made under Jai Singh I, who ruled from 1621 to 1667.
Approaching the fort, visitors pass the Mughal-inspired gardens of Dilaram Bagh and Ram Bagh before reaching Suraj Pol, the main entrance.
Along the ascent, elephant rides to the top remain popular with tourists – a practice that stands in contrast to shifting attitudes toward animal welfare in countries like Thailand.
Beyond the gate lies Jaleb Chowk, a vast courtyard added by Sawai Jai Singh (r. 1699–1743) that once served as a gathering ground for soldiers and ceremonial parades.
From here, the passage leads through Singh Pol, or the Lion Gate, into the heart of the palace complex.
One of the central areas is the Diwan-i-Aam, the public audience hall modeled after Mughal palace architecture. This space was used for royal audiences, celebrations, and courtly events.
Surrounding it is the Sattais Katcheri, a colonnade of 27 pillars which visitors can walk around to take in the central garden from various angles.
Certain parts of the courtyard offer tremendous views. Looking down, you’ll see Maota Lake, which collects natural rainwater that flows from the surrounding hills. It contains the Kesar Kyari Bagh, where Emperor Akbar himself would rest during his travels through the region.
The women’s quarters lie deeper within the complex, but are noticeably in pretty bad shape. Much of this area contains visible graffiti and signs of long-term neglect. It’s a shame considering the revenue that the site must be taking in from all the tourists coming here.
From Amber, it’s possible to continue to nearby Jaigarh Fort which sits atop an even higher hill. First, you’ll have to find the tunnel that rulers would’ve used to take refuge in times of siege. After that, it’s a fairly steep uphill climb.
What they don’t tell you until you arrive, however, is that Jaigarh Fort has its own ticketing system. It’s not part of the Composite Ticket and costs an extra Rs 500 to get in!
Fed up with the lack of transparency, I decided to turn around. The vantage point overlooking Amber, at least, is spectacular.
Jal Mahal
On your way back to town from Amber Fort, you can have your driver drop you off at Jal Mahal. Built in the mid-1700s by Madho Singh I, it was inspired by the water palaces of Udaipur.
But today, much of it is submerged underwater, and it can only be viewed from afar from the nearby road.
Additional Info
As part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Indian tourism, which also includes Delhi and Agra, Jaipur is rather easy to reach. It’s directly connected by train from just about every major city in India, not to mention most other destinations in Rajasthan.
You can reach the Pink City in about 4-5 hours from either Delhi or Agra. Coming from elsewhere in the state, it takes about 4-5 hours from either Jodhpur or Kota, or about 6-7 hours from either Bikaner or Udaipur. From Ajmer, the gateway to Pushkar, it takes just two or three hours.
Additionally, you can even fly directly to Jaipur from international cities like Bangkok, Singapore or Dubai. And of course, most Indian cities with domestic airports also have direct flights there.
If you’re doing a long trip through India, it’s best to create an account on the official Indian Railways (IRCTC) website. But that’s much easier said than done!
If you’re just doing a shorter trip, it’s best to book train tickets through 12GoAsia. You’ll pay a significantly higher fee, but it’s a much smoother experience.
The above link is an affiliate link, but I did use 12GoAsia a few times before I got my IRCTC account set up, and I had no issues.
Given the sheer sprawl of Jaipur, figuring out accommodation can be tricky. For example, I chose a small guest house with excellent reviews that seemed to be centrally located in the historic district.
And while it was technically walkable from the Hawa Mahal, the area was basically a slum, and navigating the neighborhood was confusing and stressful.
If I had to do things over again, I’d splurge a bit more for a well-established hotel rather than a room in a family home. Hotel Arya Niwas, Ratnawali, and House of Backpackers all seem like good mid-range options in the Old City.
If you’re on a budget, you can also find some extremely cheap yet decent hotels in the city’s outskirts. Following my days sightseeing closer to the city center, I spent a week at a hotel called Blue King just to focus on work. Despite the low price, I had a clean room with a private bathroom, while the family managing it were very kind.